Chapter Summaries

After Orochimaru caused a commotion at the Ninja Academy, the Third Hokage confronted him about joining the Akatsuki, and the two reflected on how much Orochimaru had changed. As Gua left with Izumi and Itachi, Tsunade stopped him and asked how he recognized her.

• The Third Hokage ended the exercise, then ordered Orochimaru to accompany him to the Hokage Office.
• Orochimaru admitted that he had joined the Akatsuki and claimed he was acting undercover on the Third Hokage's orders.
• Orochimaru apologized to the Third Hokage and explained that he had grown beyond being the boy who followed his teacher's plans.
• Gua left the Ninja Academy with Izumi and Itachi, and Tsunade called out to him.
• Tsunade asked Gua how he recognized her, and Gua said he had read Jiraiya-sensei's novel, which mentioned her.

Gua tried to explain that he recognized Tsunade by her pendant, but his clarification only led to more teasing before Jiraiya drew Tsunade away. He later told Anko and Kabuto that Orochimaru had returned, then went home to face his mother’s questions about Orochimaru being seen around the village.

• Tsunade grabbed Gua and threw him, but he landed on his feet and returned to explain that he had recognized her blue stone pendant.
• Tsunade teased Gua about looking closely at her chest, until Jiraiya interrupted and she chased him away.
• Izumi asked Gua how he noticed Tsunade’s pendant, and Itachi praised his observation before the three parted ways.
• Gua visited Orochimaru’s laboratory and told Anko and Kabuto that Orochimaru had returned and would likely come that night.
• Kabuto chose to stay at the laboratory to conduct experiments instead of going home for dinner.
• Gua returned home, where Nai asked whether Kabuto was coming back and whether Gua had seen Orochimaru carrying someone through the village.

Orochimaru returned to his laboratory, welcomed Kabuto as a student after learning Gua had sent him, and learned that Gua had previously helped Anko with her experiments. The next day, Gua visited Orochimaru to ask him to teach Kabuto science, and Orochimaru readily agreed.

• Orochimaru returned to his laboratory and found Kabuto working at his microscope, then questioned him about his identity and learned Gua had sent him.
• Kabuto told Orochimaru his claimed family history, and Orochimaru offered to instruct him in science alongside Anko.
• Anko told Orochimaru that Gua had visited the laboratory and guided her cell experiments, but she had not recorded his comments about the refrigerator.
• Gua returned to school, and Orochimaru left him alone so he could attend class.
• After school, Gua visited Orochimaru's laboratory and asked him to teach Kabuto science, which Orochimaru happily accepted.

Gua left Kabuto at Orochimaru’s laboratory, then examined Orochimaru’s refrigerator and spent the night drawing improved design plans. The next day, exhausted from the work, Gua stayed home while Orochimaru did not come to collect the drawings.

• Kabuto decided to live at Orochimaru’s laboratory so he could devote himself to studying science, while Gua headed home.
• Orochimaru showed Gua his refrigerator and asked for his opinion, so Gua promised to think about its problems.
• Orochimaru escorted Gua home, where he greeted Uchiha Oyama and praised Kabuto’s talent before leaving.
• Gua’s mother burned the beef hot pot while distracted by Orochimaru, and Gua went to his room afterward to draw refrigerator plans.
• Gua worked on the plans past midnight and fell asleep exhausted, then woke the next day with dark circles while Izumi and Itachi reacted to his appearance.

On his day off, Gua went to check on Naruto but stopped to rescue Hinata from a group of children bullying her. The bullies recognized Uchiha Gua and lost their nerve, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Itachi asked Gua for a rematch, but Gua declined because he was exhausted.
• Orochimaru visited Gua's house and learned from Uchiha Oyama that Gua had gone out.
• While heading to Naruto's home, Gua heard children bullying a blind victim and intervened when they kicked her.
• Gua grabbed the ringleader by the hair and hurled him dozens of meters before realizing the victim was Hinata.
• The ringleader threatened Gua until a companion identified him as Uchiha Gua, and the group became frightened.

Uchiha Gua stopped a group of children from bullying little Hinata and beat their leader after he refused to back down. When Gua offered to take Hinata home, she refused and revealed that she had snuck out.

• The bully’s boss drew courage from his father’s advice and challenged Uchiha Gua, despite being frightened.
• Gua knocked the boy down, then beat him until he apologized and promised to stop bullying.
• Little Hinata approached Gua, and he realized his violence had frightened her.
• Hinata followed Gua, and he asked why she was not going home.
• Hinata admitted that she had snuck out and shook her head when Gua offered to take her home.

Gua took little Hinata to meet Naruto, hoping to give her a playmate, but the two children struggled to connect. After the Anbu spotted Hinata at Naruto’s home, one went to inform the Third Generation, who decided to visit.

• Gua stopped the lackeys from fleeing and beat them before taking little Hinata toward Naruto’s home.
• The Anbu watching Naruto recognized little Hinata as the Hyuga Main Family’s princess, and one reported her visit to the Third Generation.
• The Third Generation said he would go to Naruto’s home.
• Naruto opened the door after hiding his paint and welcomed Gua and Hinata inside.
• Gua introduced the children, but Naruto and Hinata sat awkwardly without starting a conversation.

The Third Generation visited Naruto and praised Gua while trying to build ties with the children. He invited Gua and Hinata to accompany him somewhere with Naruto, and Gua accepted despite his suspicions.

• The Third Generation arrived at Naruto's messy room and promised to bring him some things next time.
• The Third Generation praised Gua's conduct at the Ninja Academy and his Will of Fire.
• The Third Generation tried to speak with Hinata, who hid behind Gua and timidly answered that her father Hiashi was well.
• Naruto introduced Gua and Hinata as his strong and good friends.
• The Third Generation invited Gua and Hinata to go somewhere with him and Naruto, and Gua agreed.

The Third took Gua, Hinata, and Naruto to Konoha’s Fire Memorial Cemetery and explained the Will of Fire as the belief that united and protected the village. Naruto declared that he would become Hokage, while Gua remained skeptical of the Third’s lesson.

• The Third led Gua, Hinata, and Naruto through the cemetery and showed them the thousands of gravestones beneath the Will of Fire sculpture.
• The Third explained that the Will of Fire meant protecting comrades, family, and the village, and asked Gua what he thought it meant.
• Gua said the Will of Fire meant protecting others and the Shinobi World, while the Third warned that threats from the Akatsuki and rival nations made protecting Konoha difficult.
• The Third urged them to honor the fallen and carry on their willingness to sacrifice for their comrades.
• Naruto asked whether the Hokage had the strongest Will of Fire, then announced that he would become Hokage; Hinata said she understood the lesson.

Gua took Hinata home after treating her and Naruto to ramen, then met Hiashi at the Hyuga compound. Hiashi thanked Gua for bringing Hinata back, but their conversation stalled as Gua considered what compensation he might receive.

• The Third Hokage stayed behind at the cemetery after Gua, Naruto, and Hinata left.
• Gua treated Naruto and Hinata to ramen, then took Naruto home and walked Hinata back to the Hyuga compound.
• Neji opened the gate, and Hizashi invited Gua inside to meet Hiashi.
• Hiashi sent Hinata away with Hizashi and Neji before thanking Gua for bringing her home.
• Gua silently considered asking Hiashi for compensation, and Hizashi suggested offering him money when the conversation faltered.

Gua accepted six million ryo from Hiashi and Hizashi before agreeing to spar with Neji. The chapter ended as Gua lunged and Neji noticed that Gua’s chakra was not circulating.

• Hiashi offered Gua money instead of Hyuga secret techniques, and Gua accepted five million ryo.
• Hizashi gave Gua another million ryo and explained that Gua had helped protect him from being handed over.
• Neji stopped Gua as he was leaving and challenged him to a spar, which Gua accepted.
• Neji took his opening stance and activated his Byakugan while Hizashi gave them room.
• Gua lunged at Neji, who saw Gua’s chakra points but noticed that his chakra was not circulating.

Gua overwhelmed Neji in a taijutsu match, breaking through Rotation and defeating him without being touched. When Neji refused to accept the loss and attacked again, Gua knocked him down and pinned him, saying he had things Neji needed to hear.

• Hizashi saw that Gua's chakra remained perfectly still and realized how extraordinary his taijutsu control was.
• Neji used Rotation, but Gua found gaps in its defense, caught Neji's ankle, and stopped the technique.
• Neji launched a kick at Gua after Gua asked whether he wanted to continue, but Gua pulled him down and slammed him into the ground.
• Gua told Neji he had lost and challenged him to try again another day, while Neji grew furious and resentful.
• Neji charged at Gua again, and Gua knocked him down, planted a foot on his chest, and told him to listen while lying down.

After defeating Neji, Gua returned home with six million ryo from the Hyuga Clan and shared his written research with Orochimaru. His happiness over the money ended when he learned his parents had handed it to the clan treasury.

• Gua defeated Neji, told him he was no genius, and left Neji crying while Hizashi came to comfort him.
• Neji stopped training and spent his days staring into space, worrying Hiashi and Hizashi.
• Gua brought the Hyuga Clan's six million ryo home and gave his parents the money before preparing notes for Orochimaru.
• Gua delivered his refrigerator explanation and Impure World Reincarnation insights to Orochimaru, who offered him various newly developed items and money.
• Gua enjoyed his newfound wealth, then learned his parents had given the six million ryo to the clan treasury.

Gua’s parents decided to leave the six million ryo dispute with the Hyuga to Clan Head Fugaku, leaving Gua worrying about the money. Meanwhile, Orochimaru opened Gua’s research drafts and realized they contained a major solution to his refrigerator problems, then turned eagerly to the second set of pages.

• Dashan and Nai insisted that Clan Head Fugaku should negotiate with the Hyuga over the six million ryo, and Gua reluctantly went along with them.
• After Gua left, Orochimaru opened the manuscripts while Anko and the newly awakened Kabuto watched.
• Kabuto recognized the drafts as Gua’s work but could not decipher the crooked handwriting or diagrams.
• Orochimaru understood that Gua’s proposed sealed system and improved coolant could solve the refrigerator’s contamination and weak cooling problems.
• Orochimaru praised Gua’s genius, briefly lamented that his own scientific talent could not compare, and then opened the second set of drafts.

Orochimaru examined Gua’s manuscripts and realized they solved a longstanding flaw in Impure World Reincarnation, while also offering detailed improvements to an air conditioner. Meanwhile, Fugaku returned the Hyuga Clan’s six million to Hiashi, who decided to pay Gua through the Third Generation, and Hizashi worried that Neji had offended him.

• Orochimaru studied Gua’s ninjutsu manuscript and celebrated his genius after recognizing that it improved Impure World Reincarnation.
• Orochimaru prepared to test Gua’s manuscripts, while Anko continued her cell experiments and Kabuto washed test tubes.
• Fugaku returned the six million from the Hyuga Clan because he feared the money exchange would be misinterpreted amid the clans’ tensions with the village.
• Hiashi decided to give the money to the Third Generation so Gua would receive what he had earned.
• Hizashi feared Neji had offended Gua and resolved to make his son apologize.

After losing hope of recovering his six million, Gua rejected Neji Hyuga’s apology but offered him a little encouragement before he left. On his way home, Gua encountered Jiraiya and Tsunade, who were headed to Orochimaru’s laboratory to investigate Nagato.

• Gua confirmed that Neji Hyuga knew nothing about his missing six million and told Neji to leave.
• Neji apologized for attacking Gua and blaming him for his resentment toward his clan and fate.
• Gua called Neji back, admitted he had gone too far, and urged him to keep training, but Neji left even more dejected.
• Gua ran into Jiraiya and Tsunade, declined Jiraiya’s invitation to visit Orochimaru’s laboratory, and continued home.
• After Gua left, Tsunade questioned his importance while Jiraiya praised his talent and sharp reactions.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade went to see Orochimaru about Nagato, whose Rinnegan and resemblance to an Akatsuki leader had drawn their attention.

Jiraiya and Tsunade visited Orochimaru, who showed off a refrigerator powered by his scientific experiment and brushed aside their questions about the Akatsuki. Jiraiya asked whether Orochimaru remembered the three children they had met in the Land of Rain, but Orochimaru said he did not.

• Jiraiya and Tsunade waited outside Orochimaru's Laboratory until Kabuto opened its automatic door, then went inside despite Kabuto's warning.
• Kabuto left the Laboratory to visit his parents and ask Gua about questions raised by Gua's manuscript.
• Orochimaru connected his experimental black sphere to his Refrigerator and confirmed that it produced cold air.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade tried to catch up with Orochimaru, but he refused to stop working and dismissed their interest in science.
• Jiraiya asked Orochimaru about Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko in the Akatsuki, then brought up the three children they had met in the Land of Rain.
• Orochimaru said he did not remember the three children.

Jiraiya asked Orochimaru about the three children they had met in the Land of Rain, then left with Tsunade after Orochimaru dismissed them. At home, Gua explained his science manuscripts and ideas to Kabuto, who relayed them to Anko the next day, leaving them both dreaming about future technology.

• Jiraiya reminded Orochimaru about Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, but Orochimaru barely remembered them and told Jiraiya to investigate in the Land of Rain.
• Orochimaru had Anko escort Jiraiya and Tsunade out, then turned his attention to studying Gua's manuscripts.
• Kabuto came home for dinner and asked Gua to explain the manuscripts he had given Orochimaru.
• Gua explained the manuscripts and described future technological ages to Kabuto, who listened intently before returning to his room.
• Kabuto told Anko about Gua's ideas and explained air conditioners, and they imagined a giant bird carrying them to the moon.

The Third Generation summoned Gua after the Hyuga returned the six million Gua had refused, then tested what he valued. He gave Gua the money and agreed to let him see the Scroll of Seals.

• The Third Generation accepted six million from Hiashi and viewed the Hyuga and Uchiha clans’ contribution as a sign of support for the village.
• Ebisu tried to fetch Gua from class, but Ye Chuan Dahei made him wait until the school day ended before Gua left for the Hokage Office.
• The Third Generation asked Gua why he had refused the Hyuga’s money, and Gua claimed he cared about the Will of Fire rather than wealth.
• The Third Generation returned the six million to Gua and agreed to let him see the Scroll of Seals.

Gua recovered his six million and gained permission to study the Scroll of Seals, while the Third Hokage and Danzo argued over how to respond to Ōnoki's accusations against Konoha. The Third Hokage chose to avoid war and ordered stronger patrols and Root surveillance as tensions with the Land of Earth remained unresolved.

• The Third Hokage returned Gua's six million and allowed him to study the Scroll of Seals for half an hour each day, forbidding him from copying or sharing its techniques without permission.
• Danzo confronted the Third Hokage over allowing Gua to read the scroll, and the Third Hokage said he considered Gua Konoha's future.
• Danzo demanded a response to Ōnoki's accusations that Konoha had taken Dust Release and the Land of Earth's map, while the Third Hokage admitted he was stalling.
• The Third Hokage argued that war could draw Kumogakure, the Land of Rain, and Rasa into a conflict Konoha could not afford.
• The Third Hokage ordered stronger patrols in the northwest and told Danzo to have Root monitor Kumogakure and the Land of Earth.